Load handling attachment for industrial trucks



` June 11, 1957 4 F. J. sci-1ENKELBERGER 2,795,347

LOAD HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS y Filed March 25, 1953 6Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. y FRANK J.' SCHENKELBERGER BY '6M mma ATTORNEYJune 1l, 195.7 F. J. scHl-:NKELBERGER 2,795,347

I LOAD HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS Filed March 25. 1953 6Sheets-Sheet 2 BY 2@ 6. @au

ATTORNEY June l1, 1957 J. scHENKELBERGl-:R 2,795,347 LOAD HANDLINGATTACHMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS vFiled umn 25. 1.953 s sheds-sheet s36Lv A 35 fw fwd; 7T 9 Ltd 'f4 ff .6' 'fa INVEN TOR.

l F/ 'FRANK J. scHENKELBl-:RGER

A BY ma@ ATTORNEY 'June 1l. 1957 F. J. scHENKELBl-:RGER Y 2,795,347

LOAD HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR INDSTRIAL TRUCKS Filed Haren .125.1953- Vesheets-sheet 4 FRANK J. -SCHENKELBERGER F/G. '7

ATTORNEY June 11, 1957 F. J. scHEl\|| rsLBERGER4` 2,795,347

LOAD HANDLING ATTACHMENT F OR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS Filed March 25, 1953 6Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. FRANK .I SCHENKELBERGER BY M. fianza A Trop/v5y June 11, 1957 F. J. scHENKELBERGr-:R l2,795,347

LOAD HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS Filed Marchs, 1955 esheets-sheet e INVENTOR. I FRANK J. SGHENKELBERGER BY l (7M. amm

ATTORNEY United States Patent O LOAD HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR INDUSTRIALTRUCKS Frank J. Schenkelberger, North Olmsted, Ohio, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to The Baker-Raulang Company, a corporation ofDelaware Application March 25, 1953, Serial No. 344,543

11 Claims. (Cl. 214-701) This invention relates to an industrial truck,more particularly a truck having upright guide means on which a memberis slidably supported and may be raised by a suitable power operatedmechanism. In trucks of this type the raisable member is provided with acarrier for the loads to be picked up, transported and discharged. Insome forms of construction, the load engaging or carrying devices areconnected directly to the raisable member; in other forms ofconstruction, these devices are movably mounted on a frame which in turnis connected to the raisable member. As hereinafter set forth, theinvention herein is embodied in both forms of construction to (a)accommodate loads of different shapes or sizes, such as boxes, cartons,bales, tires and other bodies, or (b) accommodate and handle loads,which for various reasons, may be bodily moved by a power operatedmechanism while supported on the carrier.

The invention includes means for removably supporting on the raisablemember load supporting or en gaging devices adapted for handling onekind or shape of load, whereby these devices may be removed and replacedby devices adapted for handling a different kind or shape of load. Inthis connection, it is to be observed that in some manufacturing plants,where different types of loads had to be handled, separate trucks wereemployed, for example, one having a carrier to accommodate and transportthe materials and parts to be fabricated and another to handle thefinished products made from such materials and parts. I Due to the costof these trucks and for other economical reasons, it has been founddesirable to provide a truck having a raisable member wherein thecarrier or parts thereof, may be removed and another carrier or partssubstituted therefor. By such removable and replacement arrangement onecan rier may be adapted to handle one type of load and the substitutedcarrier or parts thereof may be adapted for handling another type ofload, whereby a substantial saving in the initial cost and operatingexpense results. Furthermore, so far as I have knowledge, in elevatingtrucks having a carrier that may be removed and another carriersubstituted therefor, undue labor and time was required to make thechange of carriers, especially where parts of the carrier and raisablemember and the iluid connections had to be disassembled andre-assembled.

The invention includes removably related connections between the loadengaging devices andthe raisable support or between parts of thecarrier, whereby the load engaging devices may be adjusted orrepositioned to engage and support loads of different sizes.

The invention also includes a carrier consisting of forks and removabledevices for increasing the length of the forks.

One object of this invention is to provide, in a truck having a raisablesupport, improved interrelated, yseparable elements and locking devicestherefor of simplified form, whereby the load carrier may be readilypositioned on the support or removed and replaced by an other carrier.

Patented June 1l, 1957 ICC Another object of the invention is to providean improved mechanism for removably mounting a load carrier on theraisable member of an elevating truck consisting of telescopicallyrelated parts.

Another object of the invention is'to provide, in a truck having araisable member, an improved mechanism mounted thereon for removablymounting load supporting or handling devices consisting of sets oftelescopically related fixed and movable parts, wherein the movable partis operated in av direction endwise of the truck, whereby positioning orreplacement of thercarrier on the raisable member may be made in arelatively limited area.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an elevating type oftruck, load supporting devices having offset inner ends capable of beingadjustably mounted on the raisable support for the truck, whereby thevsupporting devices may be related in selected spaced relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forincreasing the length of the forks to accommodate large loads.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanismmounted on the raisable support of a truck and having pairs of loadengaging devices swingably mounted on relatively movable members andadapted to engage the opposite sides of a load to be picked up andtransported and means operable to simultaneously swing the pairs ofdevices to a selected position, whereby the load may be bodilyrepositioned to facilitate transportation and/ or the discharge thereof.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an industrial truck embodyingmy invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of parts shown in Fig. 1, enlarged, parts beingbroken away;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3 3 and 4 4, respectively, ofFig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of parts shown in Figs. l and 2;

Fig. 5a is a section on the line 5a 5a of Fig. 5;

Figs. -6 and 7 are sections on the lines 6 6 and 7 7, respectively, ofFig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation looking toward the left of Figs.l and 2;

Fig. 9 is an expanded view of parts shown in Figs. l and 2 showing theload engaging mechanism removed;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view showing the mounting of a modifiedform of load support;

Fig. 10a is a section on the line 10a 10a of Fig. 10;

Fig. ll is a fragmentary side elevation of parts shown in Fig. 10, butshowing a modified form of mounting;

Fig. lla is a section on the line 11a-11a of Fig. 1l;

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a plurality ofremovable forks for supporting a load; also showing each fork providedwith a supplemental member, whereby the length of the forks may beincreased;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the fork and supplemental member; and

Fig. 14 is a section on the Iline 14-14 of Fig. 13.

In the drawings, referring particularly to Figs. l to 8, inclusive, 1indicates as an entirety the front portion of an industrial elevatingtruck consisting of a frame 1a mounted on a pair of front wheels 1b anda pair of rear wheels (not shown). By preference, one of said pairs ofwheels is driven by a suitable motive power and the wheels of the otherpair are mounted to provide for steering of the truck. 2 indicates apair of main guides connected together at their lower ends by a base 2a.The outer vsides of the guides 2 are provided with rearwardly extendingsupports V2 (one only being shown) suitably pivotally mounted on thehousing of the axle for the wheels 1b, whereby, by means of a poweroperated mechanism (not shown) connected to linkage 2b the guides 2 andparts `supported thereon may be tilted inwardly to facilitate`transportation of the loads. Such mounting of the main guides 2 and themechanism for tilting or swinging them inwardly and outwardly are wellknown in this art, for which reason such mechanism is not shown. Theguides 2 slidably support a pair of secondary guides 3, for movementendwis'e thereon and the latter guides slidably support an elevatingmember, indicated as an entirety at 4. As shown in Fig. l, the guides 2and 3 are preferably of equal length and in the `lowest position of theelevating member 4 the guides 3 may rest on the base 2a.

6 indicates as an entirety a carriercomprising a frame 6' mounted on themember 4 and a load support, which is later referred to. The frame 6'consists of a bottom wall 6g, side walls 6b, 6b', a top wall 6c andspaced upper and lower panels forming a rear wall 6d. The trarne 6 isreinforced vertically by a bar 7 welded to the top and bottom wallsthereof and horizontally dis posed bars 7a, 7a', each welded atitsopposite ends to the vertical bar 7 and one of the side walls 6b, 6b.The frame 6' may be of any desired width. 1n the illustrated form ofconstruction, the elevating member 4 consists of the following: 4aindicates spaced, parallelly related brackets mounted on and extendingrearwardly from the wall dd, each bracket being provided with upper andlower laterally extending stud shafts 4b loosely rotatably supportingrollers 8, which roll on the secondary guides l 3, to support theelevating member 4 and carrier 6 thereon, whereby these parts may beraised and lowered, by a suitable mechanism indicated as an entirety at9. The raising mechanism 9 herein illustrated is of the fluid operatedtype and preferably similar in construction and operation to themechanism shown in Letters Patent No. 2,598,566 to Max Lehmann, datedMay 27, 1952 (to which reference may be made) wherein the source offluid under pressure is supplied to the lower end of a member 9a,mounted on the base 2a.

The load support consists of a pair of arms or members 10 extendingoutwardly of the frame 6' and removably mounted on the lower `ends ofvertically disposed supporting elements 11, 11', as later set forth. Inthe form of construction referred to, the supporting elements 11, 11',are movably supported on the frame 6' by means of upper and lower guidedevices 12, 13, respectively, whereby the members 10, dependent on` theequipment associated therewith or lack of equipment thereon, may

be moved toward or from each other or both moved simultaneously in thesame direction. It will be observed that where the supporting elements11, 11', are not to be moved laterally in either direction they may befixed to cross members, which in turn are removably supported on theraisable support 4, as shown in Letters Patent No. 2,522,128, datedSeptember l2, 1950. The devices 13 consist of the following: 13aindicates a guide member disposed adjacent the lower wall 6a of theframe 6 and suitably mounted at its opposite ends in the side walls 6b,6b', thereof. ach of the upstanding supporting elements 11, 11', isprovided at its opposite sides with rearwardly extending plates 13bconnected to a sleeve 13o which slidably fits the guide 13a. The guidedevices 12 consist of pins or bolts 12a mounted in and extendingupwardly beyond the upper ends of the sup porting elements 1l, 11', eachpin supporting a bushing on which a roller `1,211 is mounted, therollers having engagement with the rear edge of the top wall 6c andco-operating with the guide member 13a to slidaoly support thesupporting elements 11, 11', and parts supported thereon on the frame 6.

14 indicates as an entirety power means for moving the supportingelements 11, 11', on the guide devices 12, 13, disposed `intermediatethe latter.` The power means comprise the following: 14a indicates anendless lil chain engaging reeving elements 14b, 14b', suitably mountedon the side walls 6b, 6b', respectively. In the arrangement shown inFig. 8, the supporting element 11 is detachably connected to the lowerrun of the chain 14a and the supporting element 11' is detachablyconnected to the upper run of the chain; accordingly, with thesupporting elements 11, 11', in the position shown in Fig. 8, driving ofthe chain 14a in a counter-clockwise direction will move the supportingelements 11, 11', toward each other, whereas, driving of the chain 14gin a clockwise direction will move the supporting elements 11, 11', inthe opposite direction. The detachable connections between eachsupporting element 11, 11', and the chain 14a consists of a key 11xremovably mounted in an extension on the rear side of the adjacentsupporting element and provided with a lug 11x' which projects into oneof the links of the chain 14a. It will be observed that theseconnections provide for the initial setting of the supporting elements11 11', at any desired spaced relation. The chain 14a is preferablydriven by a uid operated mechanism consisting of a cylinder-piston unit15 preferably disposed between the chain runs. The outer end of thecylinder 15a is mounted on the support for the reeving element 14h,whereas the outer end of the piston rod 15,1), which is connected to thereciprocatable piston 15C, is pivotally connected to a block 15b'suitably mounted on the rear side of the supporting element 11'; as thesupporting element 11' is, as already set forth, connected to the upperrun of the chain 14a, the operation of the piston 15C toward the left,as viewed in Fig. 8, will effect movement of the supporting element 11',which will drive the chain 14a and the latter in turn will move thesupporting element 11 toward the right. As later set forth,the operationof the supporting elements 11, 11', toward each other serves to effectpressure or clamping engagement with a body A, which as shown 'in dottedlines for purposes of illustration in Fig. 5, consists of a roll ofpaper. As shown in Fig. 8, the opposite ends of the cylinder 15a areconnected with fluid connections 16, 16a, for the supply and dischargeof the fluid (preferably oil), the source of fluid pressure supply beingmounted on the frame 1a and controlled by a valve (not shown) arrangedto supply fluid pressure to either end of the cylinder 15a and thedischarge of the uid v from the opposite end of the latter in a wellknown manner. The fluid connection 16a is provided with a branch pipe16!) connected to one end of a separate cylinder 17 having a piston 17awhich is subjected on its inner side to the iiuid pressure establishedin Vthe fluid supply system, the cylinder 17 on the outer side of thepiston being filled with a suitable gas--such as nitrogen under pressureequal to that for operating the piston 15C when the latter is operatedto move the members 11, 11', into engagement with the body A, wherebythe latter may be raised or otherwise bodily moved. The pressure of thegas in the cylinder 17 is effective to compensate for reduced pressurein the connection 16a and the fittings therefor, due to leakage of theuid therefrom, when a body A is clamped, as later set forth, The piston17a is elongated and slidably fits the inner wall of the cylinder 17 forendwise movement therein.

The mounting of the supporting elements 11, 11', and power means foroperating the latter are similar to the mounting of and power means foroperating the upstanding legs in my co-pending application Ser. No`221,-

638, filed Apr. 18, 1951, now Letters Patent No. 2,663,- 443, dated Dec.22, 1953, for which reason no `claim is made herein thereto.

in the form of construction being described, the members 1t) areprovided with pairs of load engaging members 32 in opposed relation andadapted to engage the opposite sides of the load or body A, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 5. Where the side wall of the load or body A isround, the members 32a, 32b, are of arcuate shape to insure maximumsurface engagement with the body `A and eliminate damage to the latter.As shown, members 32a, 32h, of each pair are mounted on parallellyrelated shafts 33, which, as viewed in Fig. 5, are disposed parallel tothe axis of the body A and carried by a plate 34, whichin turn isrotatably mounted on the adjacent member 10. As shown in Figs. and 9,each of the members 32a, 32b, is provided with upper and lower facingpads 32 formed of suitable compressible friction increasing material,such as rubber or rubber compound. Each pad 32 is cemented to a plate32x which is secured to the adjacent load engaging member by screws 32x.The pivotal mountings between the members 32a, 32h, and the adjacentplate 34 are preferably similar in construction, each mountingconsisting of the following-see Fig. 7: 35 indicates a hollow supportwelded on the inner face of the adjacent plate 34, the adjacent shaft 33extending through the opening in the support 35 as shown in Fig. 7. Theshaft 33 extends beyond the opposite ends of the support 35 and throughopenings formed in spaced plates 36 which and inwardly extending lugs36a are suitably welded on theinner side of the adjacent member. Theshaft 33 for each member 32a preferably extends beyond the opposite endsof the adjacent support 35 and each of said ends supports a coiledspring 37 one end of which engages the adjacent plate 34, whereas itsother end engages the adjacent member 32a to normally swing the latterto the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Cotter pins 37a seiyeto prevent displacement of the shaft 33. With the load engaging members32a in the position shown in dotted lines and the members properlyspaced, the truck may be operated to positio-n the load engaging members32a-32h, 32a-321), at opposite sides of the body A (as shown in Fig. 5),whereupon the members 10 may be operated to move the members 32a--32b,32a-32b, into pressure or clamping engagement with the body A, as shownin dotted lines. In this latter operation, the engagement of the innerside edges of the members 32a with the body A serves to swing themembers 32a into face-to-face relation with the body A. By preference,that end of each plate 34, which 'supports one of the body engagingmembers 32a, is provided with an angle 36x the outerv Wall of whichprovides a stop to limit the swinging movement of the adjacent member32a under the influence of the springs 37.

The pivotal connection between each member 10 and the :adjacent plate 34is preferably disposed axially of the latter and consists of thefollowing: 38 indicates a through opening formed in the member 10 (seeFig. 6), and alined with the through opening 38 in the other member 10.The inner and outer ends vof the opening 38 are enlarged to' provideannular recesses 38a, 38b." 39 indic'ates a bushing mounted in andhaving a pressed-in fit with the Walls of the opening 38., The outer endof the bushing 39 is provided with a flange 39a seated in the recess38h. 40 indicates a shaft having a iiange 40a engaging the ange 39a. Theshaft 40 is rotatably mounted in the bushing 39 nad extends therethroughand an opening 34 formed in the plate 34, the shaft 40 terminating atits inner end in a stud 4Gb, which is provided with screw threads totake a nut 41. The nut 41, when tightened, engages a washer 41a, whichhas bearing on the adjacent face of the plate 34; in this arrangement ofparts the shaft 40 is held against endwise movement in either direction.Aus shown, the inner end lportion of the shaft 40 is suitably keyed tothe plate 34. 42, 42a, indicate annular rings disposed in engagementwith the inner face of the plate 34 and bottom wall of the recess 38a,the rings providing races for the anti-friction elements (balls) 42h,forming a thrust bearing for a well known purpose. The shaft 40 isformed with a chamber 40C extending inwardly from its Aouter end andadapted to hold a supply of lubricant for the thrust bearing. Thechamber 40e` is provided with a suitable normally closed inlet, whereasits inner portion communicates with ducts 40e leading` to* thespace-between the races 42, 42a.

Mechanism, indicated as an entirety at 43, is provided forsimultaneously rotating the plates 34 ninety degrees; that is, from theposition shown in Figs. 2 and 5 to and from the position shown inFig. 1. In Figs. 2 and 5, the load engaging members 32 are positioned toengage a body A when supported on one end and raise it to a suitablelevel for transportation; when in the raised position the body A may beswung to a horizontal position for transportation at the option of thetruck driver or where the load, when lowered, is to be discharged on itsside, as shown in Fig. 1. Likewise, the load A may be picked up whenpositioned as shown in Fig. l and raised and thereafter bodily rotatedand discharged on a surface in an upright position. The constructionlends itself to other application: for example, a container containing amaterial, which container may be engaged and raised and then transportedto a discharge station where the container may then be bodily rotated todischarge the material therefrom. 'I'he mechanism 43 comprises uidoperated cylinder-piston units 43a, 43b, each mounted on one of themembers 10. These units are similar in construction and operation, sothat one only will be referred to, but like parts will be identified bysimilar reference characters. Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the unit43a consists of the cylinder 44 the inner end wall of which is providedwith an extension 44a pivotally connected to a standard 4411, which ismounted on the adjacent member 10. The cylinder 44 contains areciprocatable piston 45 connected to a rod 46 which extends through theouter end wall of the cylinder 44, the outer end of the rod beingpivotally connected to the adjacent plate 34 at one side of the shaft 40by a wrist pin 46a. The opposite ends of the cylinder 44 are providedwith fluid inlet and outlet fittings 44 to which the outer ends of fluidconduits 47, 47a, are respectively connected. As shown,

the fluid conduit 47a is preferably formed of outer and vinner'connected together sections 47x, 47x', the outer section 47x consistingof a metal pipe and the inner section 47x' and conduit 47 consisting ofliexible hose to compensate for (a) swinging movement of the cylinder44, due to the arcuate path traversed by the wrist pin 46a in rotatingthe adjacent plate 34 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the positionshown in Fig. l and in the reverse direction and (b) movement of themembers toward and from each other. As will be observed in Figs. 2, 5and 8, the inner ends of the conduits 47, 47, are connected through aT-element to the outer end of la fitting 48, whereas the inner ends ofthe conduits 47av are connected througha T-element to the outer end of atting 48a. The outer ends of the fittings 48, 48a, are connected to mainconduits 49, 49a, respectively, and the latter are connected to a valve(not shown) forming part of a system for supplying fluid (such as oil)under pressure to the cylinders 44, 44. As is well known, in the fluidsystem referred to, operation of the valve serves to supply fluid underpressure to and through either main conduit 49, 49a, and permitdischarge of the uid through the other main conduit; accordingly, whenfluid pressure is supplied to the conduit 49, the fluid Hows to andthrough the fitting 48 and conduits 47 to the inner ends of bothcylinders 44 and is applied to the outer sides of the pistons 45 thereinto move the latter outwardly (as viewed in Fig. 2) and simultaneouslythe fluid in the cylinders 44 on the inner sides of the pistons 45 isdischarged through conduits 47a-to the fitting 48a for How to the valveand from the latter to a sump. Where the fluid pressure is supplied tothe main conduit 49a, to move the pistons 45 inwardly, the tiuid flow inconduits 47 and 47a is reversed.

As the frame 6 is mounted on the support 4 which moves vertically, themain conduits 49, 49a, consist of hose.

The couplings or fittings 48, 48a, are of similar construction, eachconsisting of detachably related male andl female parts50, 50a (see Fig.5a) arranged to disconnect the adjacent main conduit from the conduitsleading `to the cylinders 44 when the members 1,0 are to be removed andother members (for example, forks 56 shown iin Figs. 10 and 10a or forks5a shown in Fig. 12) substituted as later set forth. Each part 56, 50a,is provided interiorly with a spring biased valve 51 which isautomatically unseated when the parts 50, 50a, are in assembled relation(see Fig. a) to provide a fluid connection between the adjacentconduits, but when the parts 50, 50a, are uncoupled, the valve 51 ineach part automatically engages its seat 51a to close the adjacentconduit. The couplings are `of standard construction for which reasonthey `are not described in detail. As shown in Fig. 5a, the outer endportion of each male part S0 is mounted in a support 50h, which is fixedto the vertical wall 7, the support 50h having a through opening 50h toprovide fluid communication between the adjacent conduits.

As shown in Figs. l to 5, inclusive, lthe inner ends of the members areremovably mounted on the support f ing elements 11, 11', respectively.The mounting for each member 10 consists of the following: 52 `indicatesa recess` or opening formed in each supporting element 11, 11', adjacentits lower end. In the form of construction referred to, each recess oropening is of non-circular shape in cross section. 52a indicates anextension on the inner end of each member 10. By preference, each member10 is offset inwardly at its inner end, as shown at 10' and theextension 52a is provided on and projects rearwardly therefrom. Theoffsets 10' increase the spacing of the members 10 when the latter aremoved to their extreme outward posrtlons by the mechanism 14; hence, ascompared to members 10 twherein the extensions are disposed endwise ofthe recesses 52, bodies A having a greater diameter or width can beengaged. Each eX- tension 52u is complementary in shape in cross sectionto the adjacent recess or opening 52 and removably slidably fits thelatter. By preference, the opening 52 extends through the adjacentsupporting member and the extension 52a is co-extensive in length tothat of the opening to insure an adequate and stabilized support for theadjacent member. The side walls of each recess are formed with alinedthrough openings 53, whereas the adjacent extension 52a is formed with athrough opening 53u, which registers with the openings 53 when, inpositioning the extension, the offset 1G engages the outer wall of theadjacent supporting element, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The openings53, 53a, are adapted to receive a` re movable pin 54 to lock theextension in position.` The outer end of each pin 54 is bifurcated, theside walls of which support a shaft for a rocker 55 which may bedisposed at right angles to the pin 54 (see Fig. 4) to prevent removalor displacement thereof or rocked into endwise relation to the pin whenthe latter is being inserted in position or removed. As shown in Fig. 9,the members 10 and the equipment thereon can be readily removed ordisassembled from the supporting elements 11, 11', (a) when other loadengaging members are to be substituted therefor or` (b) parts of thetruck or load engaging members are to be repaired.

Operation: Where the body A to be engaged and transported is standing onend, the pairs of load engaging members 32 are disposed as shown inFigs. 2, 5 and 8. lnitially the members 10 are moved toward the sidewalls 6b, 6b', of the frame 6', by operation of the mechanism 14 toposition the` pairs of load engaging members 32 beyond the oppositesides of the body A, whereupon the truck is driven forwardly to locatethe pairs of members 32a--32b at diametrically opposite sides of thebody A and in symmetrical relation to the diameter of the body disposedat right angles to the members 10; next, the members 10 are then movedtoward. each other to effect pressure engagement of the pairs ofengaging members 32a-2b with` the opposite sides of the body A; finally,the support 4 may be raised to any desired level for Cit lll

transportation and at the option of the truck driver the mechanism maybe operated to swing the body A to a horizontal positionf Fig. 1 showsthe position of the load engaging members 32a-3219 when the body A is ina horizontal position and is to be picked up or discharged.

56 indicates `a pair of forks removably mounted on the supportingelements 11, 11', as already set forth; as shown, the supportingelements 11, 11', are relatively movable on the frame 6', but as alreadyset forth they may be lixedly mounted on the raisable support 4. In thisform of construction, each fork 56 is offset at its inner end as shownat 56a and the latter is provided on its outer side with an Vextension52 telescopically and removably seated in an opening 52 in the adjacentsupporting element. Fig. l0 shows the forks 56 in that positionproviding a maximumspacing thereof for large size bodies. By disassemblyof the forks 56 from the supporting elements 11, 11', and bodily turningthem (a) 180 degrees to the position shown in dotted lines at x or b)degrees Ito the position shown in dotted lines at 2c', and reseating theextensions 52 in the openings 52, the forks 56 will be in a reducedspaced relation and thus support bodies of a smaller size. To providefor the three positions referred to each of the extensions 52 `is formedwith through openings 56x, 56x', disposed at right angles (see Fig. 10a)to receive the locking pin 57 in either selected position of the forks.

Figs. 11 and 11a show a fork 58 which is similar in construction to theforks 5 6 but the mounting therefor is modified in that the wall of thethrough opening 58 in the adjacent supporting element is round and theextension 58a on the offset 58h is of similar shape in cross section androtatably and removably fits the opening 58. The form of mounting forthe forks 58 permits the latter, upon removal of the locking pin 58x, tobe rotated to either selected position (as set forth with respect to theforks 56) without removing the extension 58a from the adjacent opening58.`

Figs. 12, 13` and 14 illustrate a modified form of con struction whereinare shown forks 59 for engaging and raising and lowering loads,removably mounted on the supporting elements 11, 11', the forks beingprovided with offsets 59a having extensions 52x removably fitting intoopenings 52x. ln Fig. l2 the forks are shown in that position indicatedat x' in Fig. 10; it will be observed that the forks 59 may berepositioned, as herein set forth in connection with the forks ormembers 56 and 58, to meet different types, shapes or sizes of loads.These views also illustrate means wherein provision is made to increasethe length of the forks to accommodate large size loads. In these views,60 indicates supplemental forks each removably mounted on one` of theforks 59. E ach supplemental member 6l) is formed of sheet metal ofU-shape in cross section, the top and side walls of which closely fitthe corresponding walls of the adjacent fork `59. The supplemental forks60 are preferably of a length to extend from the offsets 59a outwardlybeyond the outer ends of the forks 59, the length of the supplementalforks 60 being dependent on specific conditions to be met when the truckis in use. The outer end portions of the top walls of the supplementalforks 60 are preferably inclined downwardly and outwardly. Eachsupplemental fork 60 is connected to the adjacent fork 59 by thefollowing devices: 61 indicates pins extending laterally from the`GPPOsite sides of the fork 59, prefer ably adjacent its` inner end. Asshown in Fig. 13, the innner end portions of the side walls 60a for thesupplemental fork are cut away to provide rearwardly extending wings 60hthe upper edges of which are recessed to form seats 60 for the pins 61;each. supplemental fork 60 is assembled on one of the forks 5,9 byinitially positioning it as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13 and thenswinging the supplemental fork downwardly to the position shown in fulllines, in which position the engagement of the pins 61 with the walls ofthe recesses 60 serves to lock the 9 supplemental fork against endwisemovementoutwardly.- The removal of each supplemental forliv 60.iseiected by initially swinging it to the dotted linexposition, Whereuponit may be bodily moved outwardly.

To those skilled in the lart to which my invention relates, many changesin construction and Widely diiering embodiments and applications of theinvention will suggestthemselves without departing from the spirit andscope of the' invention. My disclosures and the description herein arepurely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What .I claim is:

1. In a truck having upright guide means, a support movably mounted onsaid guidev means and mechanism for raising the said support, thecombination of supporting elements on said support, each of saidelements being formed at its lower end with an inwardly extendingrecess, a plurality of horizontally disposed outwardly extending loadsupporting members, each member being provided at its inner end with arearward extension removably fitting into one of said recesses and eachof said supporting members being provided at its inner end with anoffset and the extension for each member being mounted on the outer sideof the offset of the corresponding member adjacent to the outer end ofthe olset, whereby by moving said members outwardly to remove saidextensions from the adjacent respective recesses and replacing theextensions in a different angular position, the load supporting membersmay be selectively spaced.

2. In a truck having upright guide means, a support movably mounted onsaid guide means and mechanism for raising the said support, thecombination of supporting elements on said support, each of saidelements being formed at its lower end with an inwardly extendingrecess, a plurality of horizontally disposed outwardly extending loadsupporting members, each member being provided at its inner end with arearward extension removably fitting into one of said recesses, and eachload supporting member being provided at its inner end with an oiset,the extensions of said members being mounted on the outer side of theoisets thereof adjacent to the outer end of the offset, whereby rotationof said extensions in their respective recesses serves to position saidmembers in selectively spaced relationship.

3. In a truck having upright guide means, a support movably mounted onsaid guide means and mechanism for raising said support, of a loadcarrier on said support, said carrier comprising a transverse frame, apair of vertically disposed, parallel related supporting elements,horizontally disposed lguide means between said frame and saidsupporting elements, means for moving said elements toward or from eachother, a pair of horizontally disposed, outwardly extending supportingdevices each removably mounted at its inner end on the lower end of oneof said supporting elements, plates mounted on the inner sides oi saidsupporting devices adjacent their outer ends in alined opposed relationand a pair of load engaging members mounted on said plates and disposedin opposed relation and adapted to engage the opposite sides of a loadupon movement of said supporting elements toward each other.

4. In a truck having a frame, upright guide means mounted on said frame,a support movably mounted on said guide means `and mechanism for raisingsaid support, of a load carrier on said support and consisting of atransverse frame, a pair of vertically disposed supporting elements,horizontally disposed guide means on said frame for movably supportingsaid elements, means on said transverse frame and operatively connectedto said supporting elements for moving them relative to said transverseframe, the lower ends of said supporting elements being formed withinwardly extending horizontally disposed recesses, a pair ofhorizontally disposed load supporting devices each having on its innerend a horizontal-A ly disposed rear extension fitting into one of saidrecesses and adapted to be removed therefrom endwise, and means v '10for'removably securing each said extension in the adjacent recess.

5. A truck as claimed in 'claimB wherein each of said plates isrotatably mounted on the adjacent supporting device, a fluid operatedmechanism is mounted on each of said supporting devices andV operativelyconnected to 'the adjacent plate to rotate it in either direction, saidmechanism including a motor and separate fluid conduits for said motor,each conduit consisting of an inner section connected at its outer endto said motor and an outer section the outer end of which is adapted tobe connected to a fluid under pressure supply and discharge systemmounted on the truck, a valve for controlling the flow of fluid througheither of said conduits and discharge of the fluid through the otherconduit, and detachable fittings between the adjacent ends of theconduit sections for each conduit adapted to be separated wheny saidsupporting devices are to be removed from said supporting elements, thefitting for the inner end of each outer conduit section being mounted onsaid support.

6. A truck having. in combination, a frame provided with upright guidemeans, a support movably mounted on said guide means, mechanism betweensaid frame and said support for moving the latter vertically on saidguide means, a plurality of |horizontally disposed load engaging membersmounted at their inner ends on said support and extending outwardlytherefrom, an elongated supplemental load engaging member removablymounted on each of said first mentioned members, said supplementalmember, when positioned on the latter, being arranged to extend beyondthe outer end of the adjacent iirst mentioned member to increase thelength of the latter, and detachable connections between each firstmentioned load engaging members and the adjacent supplemental loadengaging member.

7. A truck as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said lirst mentionedload engaging members is shaped to provide a top wall and side walls andeach of said supplemental members, throughout its inner portion, havingan inverted U-shape in cross section and arranged to fit the top andside walls of the adjacent first mentioned load engaging member.

8. A truck as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said first mentionedmembers is provided with `a pin extending laterally from one sidethereof and one side wall of the adjacent supplemental member is cutaway to form a recess adapted to receive said pin and secure saidsupplemental member to the adjacent first mentioned member.

9. In a truck having a chassis, upright guide means mounted on saidchassis, a support member movably mounted on said guide means andmechanism for raising said support member, the combination of a loadcarrier on said support member comprising a frame, a pair of supportingelements, horizontally disposed guide means on said frame for movablysupporting said elements, means on said frame and operatively connectedto said elements for moving the latter relative to said frame, saidsupporting elements each being formed with a recess, a pair ofhorizontally disposed load supporting devices each having on its innerend an extension fitting into one of said recesses and adapted to beremoved therefrom, and means for detachably securing said extensions insaid recesses.

10. In a truck having upright guide means, a support movably mounted onsaid guide means and mechanism for raising said support, the combinationof a load carrier on said support and comprising a transverse frame, apair of vertically disposed parallel supporting elements, horizontallydisposed guide means supporting said supporting elements for movement onsaid frame, power actuated means for moving said elements toward or awayfrom each other, a pair of horizontally disposed and ontwardly extendingsupporting devices each removably mounted at its inner end on the lowerend of said supporting elements, and load engaging members mounted on 11said supporting devices and disposed in opposed relationship and adaptedto engage the opposite sides of a load upon movement of said `loadsupporting devices toward each other.

1l. In a truck having a chassis, upright guide means mounted on saidchassis, a support member removably mounted on said guide means andmechanism for raising said support` member, the combination of a loadcarrier on said support member comprising a frame, a pair of supportingelements, horizontally disposed guide means on said frame for movablysupporting said elements, power actuated means on said rframe andyoperatively connected to said elements for moving the elements`laterally with respect to said frame, said supporting ele,- Yments each`being formed with an upwardly `extending recess adjacent its lower end,a pair of horizontally disposed load supporting devices each having onits inner end an extension fitting into one` of said recesses andadapted to be removedtherefrom, said recesses having walls causing saidload supporting devices to move horizontally with said elements, saidelements including means adjacent said recesses for holding saidextensions in said recesses but permitting selective removal of theextensions from the recesses.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,580,698 Stagg Apr. 13, `1926 2,271,624 Cochran Feb. 3, 1942 2,421,472Way ..-c June 3, 1947 2,490,772 Benner Dec. 13, 1949 2,536,068 LehmannJan. 2, 1951 2,582,663 Weiss Ian. 15, 1952 2,584,240 Stewart Feb. 5,1952 2,621,822 Melin Dec. 16, 1952 2,622,750 Ehlers Dec. 23, 19522,645,372 Broersrna n July 14, 1953 2,647,650 Sherriff Aug. 4, 19532,663,929 Carpenter Dec. 29, 1953 2,675,139 Mercier et al Apr. 13, `19542,682,350 Garrett June 29, 1954 2,698,698 Smith et al Jan. 4, 1955

